Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Dakota County Lake Quality

Minnesota, 59 lakes, measured by Minnesota PCA

Dakota County has 59 monitored lakes, enough that within-county variation matters as much as the county average. Some are deep glacial basins, others are shallow agricultural-watershed waters, and the measurements reflect that mix. 45 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. For Dakota County the spread behind the average matters more than the average itself: a few nutrient-rich lakes among many clear ones produce the same figure as the inverse.

Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow, under 50 feet, which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Marion Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings in the county.

Loading map…

Where to stay near Dakota County

Top-rated places to stay near Dakota County

Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a trip to Dakota County?

Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Dakota County — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Quick Answers for Dakota County

Cleanest lakes in Dakota County →Cleanest lakes in Minnesota →Best swimming lakes in Minnesota →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Marion Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Minnesota regulations index.

Fishing in Dakota County

Dakota County Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest lakes in Dakota County

DNR Reports (40)

Minnesota DNR LakeFinder resources for lakes in Dakota County. browse all reports →

These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).

—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Thompson
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Thomas
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Spring
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Rogers
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Pickerel
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Orchard
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — McDonough
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Marion
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Lemay
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Lac Lavon
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Keller
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Holland
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Fish
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Crystal
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Chub
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Carlson
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Byllesby
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Bur Oaks Pond
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fisheries Lake Survey — Blackhawk
Fisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Blackhawk
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Public Water Access Sites — Blackhawk
Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Bur Oaks Pond
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Byllesby
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Public Water Access Sites — Byllesby
Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Carlson
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Crystal
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Public Water Access Sites — Crystal
Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Fish
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Public Water Access Sites — Fish
Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Holland
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Public Water Access Sites — Jensen
Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Public Water Access Sites — Lac Lavon
Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Lemay
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Marion
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Public Water Access Sites — Marion
Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Orchard
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Public Water Access Sites — Orchard
Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Fish Stocking History — Rogers
Fish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Public Water Access Sites — Rogers
Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
—
Public Water Access Sites — Spring
Public Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder

All Lakes in Dakota County

59 lakes · 45 ranked on readings, 14 without enough sampling45 lakes ranked on readings · 14 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (14)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	Marion LakeDakota	7 ft	20 µg/L	4.6 µg/L	No recent samples	21 ft	✓ Public
2	Lac Lavon LakeDakota	12.1 ft	13 µg/L	2.7 µg/L	No recent samples	32 ft	✓ Public
3	Holland LakeDakota	27.9 ft	14 µg/L	3.5 µg/L	No recent samples	55 ft	Carry-in
4	O'Brien LakeDakota	18 ft	20 µg/L	4.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
5	Sunfish LakeDakota	9.7 ft	20 µg/L	3.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
6	Rogers LakeDakota	6.6 ft	23 µg/L	2.9 µg/L	No recent samples	8 ft	✓ Public
7	Horseshoe LakeDakota	6.7 ft	32.5 µg/L	3.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
8	Unnamed LakeDakota	6 ft	26 µg/L	7.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
9	Lemay LakeDakota	6.9 ft	29 µg/L	4.6 µg/L	No recent samples	15.5 ft	Carry-in
10	Fish LakeDakota	7.2 ft	37 µg/L	9.1 µg/L	No recent samples	33.5 ft	✓ Public
11	Blackhawk LakeDakota	7.9 ft	28 µg/L	5.3 µg/L	No recent samples	12 ft	✓ Public
12	Crystal LakeDakota	7 ft	27 µg/L	14.4 µg/L	No recent samples	37 ft	✓ Public
13	Thomas LakeDakota	5.6 ft	26.5 µg/L	6.7 µg/L	No recent samples	8 ft	✓ Public
14	Carlson LakeDakota	7.5 ft	26 µg/L	8.2 µg/L	No recent samples	19 ft	Carry-in
15	Schultz LakeDakota	8.5 ft	23 µg/L	9.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
16	Mcdonough LakeDakota	4.5 ft	30 µg/L	7.7 µg/L	No recent samples	13 ft	Carry-in
17	East Thomas LakeDakota	5.6 ft	27 µg/L	8.5 µg/L	No recent samples	19 ft	Carry-in
18	Bald LakeDakota	5.6 ft	39 µg/L	8.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
19	Jensen LakeDakota	4.6 ft	28 µg/L	12 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
20	Gun Club LakeDakota	3.5 ft	154 µg/L	11 µg/L	No recent samples	9.5 ft	✓ Public
21	Hornbean LakeDakota	7.2 ft	36 µg/L	5.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
22	Cobblestone LakeDakota	3.9 ft	93 µg/L	17.5 µg/L	No recent samples	18 ft	Carry-in
23	Orchard LakeDakota	5.9 ft	29 µg/L	11 µg/L	No recent samples	33 ft	✓ Public
24	Sunset PondDakota	4.9 ft	48 µg/L	5.2 µg/L	No recent samples	10.5 ft	Carry-in
25	Earley LakeDakota	5.9 ft	36.5 µg/L	13.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
26	Pitts LakeDakota	4.9 ft	43 µg/L	8.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
27	Lee LakeDakota	4.8 ft	39 µg/L	16 µg/L	No recent samples	14 ft	Carry-in
28	Keller LakeDakota	4.1 ft	37.5 µg/L	16.5 µg/L	No recent samples	7 ft	Carry-in
29	Schmitt LakeDakota	3.6 ft	48 µg/L	19 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
30	Bur Oaks PondDakota	4.6 ft	70 µg/L	9.8 µg/L	No recent samples	9 ft	Carry-in
31	Quigley LakeDakota	2 ft	141 µg/L	23.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
32	O'Leary LakeDakota	2.6 ft	153 µg/L	72.3 µg/L	No recent samples	33.5 ft	✓ Public
33	Long LakeDakota	1.6 ft	110 µg/L	81.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
34	Thompson LakeDakota	3.3 ft	54 µg/L	36 µg/L	No recent samples	8 ft	Carry-in
35	Rebecca LakeDakota	2.6 ft	134 µg/L	92 µg/L	No recent samples	15 ft	✓ Public
36	Gerhardt LakeDakota	2 ft	50 µg/L	37 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
37	Augusta LakeDakota	0.7 ft	147.5 µg/L	130 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
38	Unn PondDakota	2 ft	135 µg/L	51 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
39	Hilltop Pd LakeDakota	3.6 ft	97 µg/L	36.7 µg/L	No recent samples	12 ft	✓ Public
40	Mccarthy LakeDakota	1 ft	195 µg/L	169.5 µg/L	No recent samples	19 ft	Carry-in
41	Byllesby LakeDakota	3 ft	227 µg/L	40.7 µg/L	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public
42	Farquar LakeDakota	1.7 ft	114.5 µg/L	88 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
43	Alimagnet LakeDakota	5 ft	71 µg/L	58 µg/L	No recent samples	11.5 ft	Carry-in
44	Dickman LakeDakota	1.6 ft	74 µg/L	68.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	Carry-in
45	Lilly LakeDakota	2 ft	145 µg/L	64 µg/L	No recent samples	8 ft	Carry-in
	Pickerel LakeDakota	3.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	11 ft	✓ Public
	Spring LakeDakota	2.1 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	17 ft	✓ Public
	Chub LakeDakota	0.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	10 ft	Carry-in
	Rice LakeDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Alimagnet LakeDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	11 ft	Not recorded
	Lac Lavon LakeDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	32.2 ft	Not recorded
	Kingsley LakeDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Black Dog LakeDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Black Dog LakeDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Kegan LakeDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	River LakeDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lake IsabelleDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	5.9 ft	✓ Public
	Mud Hen LakeDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Rogers LakeDakota	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	8 ft	Not recorded

NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.

Lake Match

Which lake suits how you actually use one?

Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.

Take the quiz →

Other Counties in Minnesota

43 lakes

52 lakes

178 lakes

397 lakes

469 lakes

320 lakes

Browse every Minnesota lake, or the full directory of lakes across all United States (49 states), Canada (Ontario, Québec, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador), and 38 other country hubs..

Source: the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota DNR. See data sources.